Technical Protocol for Enhanced Anaerobic Bioremediation Using Permeable Mulch Biowalls and ...

302 Pages·2008·5.56 MB·English

FINAL
TECHNICAL PROTOCOL FOR ENHANCED ANAEROBIC
BIOREMEDIATION USING PERMEABLE MULCH
BIOWALLS AND BIOREACTORS

May 2008

Prepared for:

Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment
Technical Directorate
Environmental Science Division
Technology Transfer Outreach Office
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group, Inc. (Parsons) prepared this Technical
Protocol for the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE) under
Contract No. F41624-00-D-8024, Task Order 0011 and Contract No. F41624-03-D-8613,
Task Order 0157. This document is intended to assist AFCEE and their United States
Department of Defense (DoD) technology-transition partners in evaluating and applying
enhanced in situ anaerobic bioremediation using permeable mulch biowalls and bioreactors
for the restoration of groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents and other
groundwater contaminants subject to anaerobic degradation processes. The authors
acknowledge the assistance of numerous individuals who provided management, oversight,
and review services. These individuals and their affiliations are listed in Appendix A.
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DISCLAIMER
In no event shall either the United States Government or Parsons have any responsibility
or liability for any consequences of any use, misuse, inability to use, or reliance on the
information contained herein; nor does either warrant or otherwise represent in any way the
accuracy, adequacy, efficacy, or applicability of the contents hereof. Mention of trade names
in this report is for information purposes only; no endorsement is implied.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION....................................................................................1-1
1.1 Problem Statement...............................................................................................1-1
1.2 Objectives............................................................................................................1-2
1.3 Organization of the Biowall Protocol..................................................................1-2
1.4 Technology Description.......................................................................................1-3
1.4.1 Remedial Objectives................................................................................1-3
1.4.2 Applicable Contaminants.........................................................................1-5
1.4.3 Anaerobic Degradation Processes for Chlorinated Solvents...................1-6
1.4.4 Biowall and Bioreactor Applications.......................................................1-7
1.4.5 Advantages and Limitations of Permeable Mulch Biowalls and
Bioreactors.............................................................................................1-11
1.4.6 Alternative Configurations, Modifications, and Contingencies............1-14
SECTION 2 - REMEDIAL OBJECTIVES AND SITE SELECTION...........................2-1
2.1 Remedial Objectives and Regulatory Requirements...........................................2-1
2.1.1 Performance Objectives...........................................................................2-1
2.1.2 Regulatory Requirements........................................................................2-2
2.2 Site Screening Technical Considerations............................................................2-3
2.2.1 Conceptual Site Models...........................................................................2-3
2.2.2 Land Use and Infrastructure....................................................................2-5
2.2.3 Contaminant Distribution and Peak Concentrations................................2-5
2.2.4 Hydrogeology..........................................................................................2-7
2.2.4.1 Lithology.................................................................................2-7
2.2.4.2 Groundwater Hydraulics.........................................................2-8
2.2.5 Groundwater Geochemistry...................................................................2-10
2.2.6 Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy.............................................................2-11
2.2.7 Microbiology.........................................................................................2-12
2.2.8 Secondary Water Quality.......................................................................2-12
2.2.9 Reviewing Field Data for Anaerobic Biodegradation Potential............2-14
2.3 Proceeding with Biowall System Design and Installation.................................2-14
SECTION 3 - SYSTEM DESIGN AND ENGINEERING.............................................3-1
3.1 Technical Approach.............................................................................................3-1
3.2 System Configurations.........................................................................................3-2
3.2.1 Biowall Trenches.....................................................................................3-2
3.2.2 Bioreactors and Surface Amendments.....................................................3-3
3.2.3 Recirculation Configurations...................................................................3-3
3.3 Hydrogeology and Contaminant Distribution......................................................3-3
3.4 Biowall Dimensions.............................................................................................3-4
3.4.1 Biowall Length........................................................................................3-5
3.4.2 Biowall Thickness or Width....................................................................3-5
3.4.3 Biowall Depth..........................................................................................3-6
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
3.5 Degradation Rates and Residence Time In the Reaction Zone...........................3-7
3.5.1 Anaerobic Degradation Rates..................................................................3-7
3.5.2 Residence Time........................................................................................3-8
3.6 Bioreactor Dimensions......................................................................................3-10
3.7 Substrate Material Options................................................................................3-11
3.7.1 Mulch and Compost...............................................................................3-12
3.7.2 Alternative Organic Amendments.........................................................3-13
3.7.3 Sand, Gravel, and Limestone.................................................................3-14
3.7.4 Inorganic Amendments..........................................................................3-14
3.8 Installation Methods..........................................................................................3-15
3.8.1 Conventional Construction Techniques.................................................3-15
3.8.2 Continuous Chain Trenching.................................................................3-16
3.9 Alternative Substrate Delivery Options.............................................................3-16
3.10 Regulatory Considerations.................................................................................3-17
3.11 Biowall and Bioreactor Monitoring Configurations..........................................3-18
3.11.1 Monitoring Network Design..................................................................3-18
3.11.2 Monitoring Frequency...........................................................................3-20
SECTION 4 - CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN..........................................4-1
4.1 Site Management for Biowall or Bioreactor Installation.....................................4-1
4.2 Site Preparation....................................................................................................4-1
4.2.1 Infrastructure and Utility Clearances.......................................................4-1
4.2.3 Staging Areas...........................................................................................4-3
4.2.3 Transportation Plan..................................................................................4-3
4.2.4 Health and Safety.....................................................................................4-3
4.2.5 Surveying Excavation and Monitoring Well Locations..........................4-4
4.3 Biowall or Bioreactor Installation........................................................................4-4
4.3.1 Homogenization of Mulch Mixture.........................................................4-4
4.3.2 Trench Installation...................................................................................4-5
4.3.3 Bioreactor Installation..............................................................................4-8
4.3.4 Construction Quality Control Plan..........................................................4-8
4.3.5 Inspection and Testing Requirements......................................................4-8
4.3.5.1 Inspection and Testing of Mulch Mixture.............................4-12
4.3.5.2 Inspection of Biowall Trench or Bioreactor Dimensions.....4-12
4.3.5.3 Confirmation of Mulch Emplacement..................................4-13
4.3.5.4 As-Built Specifications.........................................................4-13
4.4 Monitoring Network Installation.......................................................................4-13
4.5 Follow-Up Inspection and Site Restoration.......................................................4-14
SECTION 5 - RESIDUALS MANAGEMENT PLAN...................................................5-1
5.1 Trenching Soil......................................................................................................5-1
5.1.1 Soil Screening Criteria.............................................................................5-1
5.1.2 Soil Screening and Analytical Testing.....................................................5-3
5.1.3 Soil Disposal............................................................................................5-4
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
5.2 Fluids Generated During Trenching....................................................................5-4
5.3 Management of Investigation Derived Waste.....................................................5-5
SECTION 6 - FIELD SAMPLING PLAN......................................................................6-1
6.1 Monitoring Strategies for a Field Sampling Plan................................................6-1
6.2 Biowall Material Sampling and QA/QC..............................................................6-2
6.2.1 Sampling of Biowall Materials................................................................6-2
6.2.2 Biowall Mixture Batch Test.....................................................................6-3
6.2.3 Biowall Mixture Column Studies............................................................6-4
6.2.4 Mulch Mixture Construction QA/QC......................................................6-4
6.3 Field Sampling Procedures For Soil and Mulch..................................................6-5
6.3.1 Borehole Advancement............................................................................6-6
6.3.2 Sampling for Mineral Speciation.............................................................6-6
6.3.2.1 Sampling Procedure for Direct-Push, Split Spoons, or Core
Barrels with Core Liners.........................................................6-7
6.3.2.2 Sampling Procedure for Split Spoons or Core Barrels without
Core Liners..............................................................................6-8
6.3.2.3 Sampling Procedure for In-Situ Frozen Biowall Samples......6-9
6.3.3 Soil Sampling of Excavated Biowall Soil..............................................6-11
6.4 Groundwater Sampling......................................................................................6-11
6.5 Laboratory Analyses..........................................................................................6-12
6.5.1 Soil Analyses.........................................................................................6-27
6.5.2 Biowall Material Analyses.....................................................................6-27
6.5.3 Groundwater Laboratory Analyses........................................................6-28
6.6 Groundwater Field Analyses.............................................................................6-29
6.7 Field QA/QC Procedures...................................................................................6-30
6.8 Aquifer Testing..................................................................................................6-31
SECTION 7 - DATA INTERPRETATION AND REPORTING...................................7-1
7.1 Interpretation of Contaminant Data.....................................................................7-1
7.1.1 Changes in Contaminant Concentrations.................................................7-3
7.1.1.1 Calculation of Molar Concentrations of CAHs.......................7-5
7.1.1.2 Concentration versus Time or Distance Plots.........................7-6
7.1.1.3 Changes in Total Molar Concentration...................................7-9
7.1.2 Changes in Molar Fractions...................................................................7-11
7.1.3 Degradation Rate Calculations..............................................................7-12
7.2 Reductions in Plume Toxicity............................................................................7-14
7.3 Changes in Biogeochemistry.............................................................................7-15
7.3.1 Competing Electron Acceptors..............................................................7-15
7.3.2 General Geochemical Indicator Parameters..........................................7-17
7.4 Diagnostic Tools for Anaerobic Dechlorination of CAHs................................7-17
7.5 Substrate Depletion and Sustaining Anaerobic Degradation.............................7-19
7.6 Reporting of System Performance and Cost......................................................7-21
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
SECTION 8 - OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PLAN......................................8-1
8.1 Components of an O&M Plan..............................................................................8-1
8.2 Sustaining Biowall Performance.........................................................................8-2
8.3 Protocols for Determining When to Replenish Substrate....................................8-2
8.4 Replenishment Options........................................................................................8-4
8.4.1 Substrate Selection...................................................................................8-4
8.4.2 Substrate Loading and Injection Volumes...............................................8-4
8.4.2.1 Substrate Loading...................................................................8-5
8.4.2.2 Substrate Volumes..................................................................8-5
8.4.3 Injection Procedures................................................................................8-6
8.4.3.1 Substrate Mixing.....................................................................8-6
8.4.3.2 Substrate Injection...................................................................8-7
8.4.3.3 Confirmation of Substrate Delivery........................................8-7
8.5 Long-Term Monitoring Optimization..................................................................8-7
SECTION 9 - BIOWALL SYSTEM COSTS..................................................................9-1
9.1 Biowall System Life-Cycle Cost.........................................................................9-1
9.1.1 Capital Construction................................................................................9-1
9.1.2 Operation and Maintenance.....................................................................9-2
9.2 Example Biowall System Cost.............................................................................9-3
9.3 Example Bioreactor System Cost........................................................................9-4
SECTION 10 - SUMMARY AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS.......................................10-1
10.1 Summary of Permeable Mulch Biowalls and Bioreactors.................................10-1
10.2 Future Directions...............................................................................................10-2
10.3 Resources...........................................................................................................10-2
SECTION 11 - REFERENCES.....................................................................................11-1
APPENDIX A – KEY PROJECT PERSONNEL
APPENDIX B – SUMMARY OF ANAEROBIC DEGRADATION PATHWAYS
B.1 Summary of Applicable Contaminants and Degradation Pathways
B.2 Degradation Processes for Organic (Mulch) Substrates
B.3 Native (Inorganic) Electron Acceptors and Oxidation-Reduction Conditions
B.4 Degradation Processes for Chlorinated Solvents
B.5 Degradation Processes for Perchlorate
B.6 Degradation Processes for Explosive Compounds
APPENDIX C – REFERENCE TABLES
C.1A Characteristics of CAHs and Degradation Products
C.1B Characteristics of Perchlorate and Degradation Products
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

C.1C Characteristics of Explosive Compounds and Degradation Products
C.2 Potential Cotton Defoliants
APPENDIX D - EVALUATING AND STIMULATING BIOGEOCHEMICAL
TRANSFORMATION OF CHLORINATED SOLVENTS BY
REACTION WITH IRON MONOSULFIDE
APPENDIX E – EXAMPLE DELIVERY PIPE CALCULATIONS
APPENDIX F – CASE STUDIES
F.1 Bioremediation of Chlorinated Solvents Using a Permeable Mulch Biowall at the
Ash Landfill Site, Seneca Army Depot Activity, New York
F.2 Permeable Mulch Biowall at Landfill 3, Operable Unit 1, Altus Air Force Base,
Oklahoma
F.3 Demonstration of a Recirculation Bioreactor at Landfill 3, Altus Air Force Base,
Oklahoma

LIST OF TABLES
No. Title Page
1.1 Summary of Permeable Mulch Biowall and Bioreactor Applications................1-8
2.1 Suitability of Site Characteristics for the Implementation of Biowalls and
Bioreactors...........................................................................................................2-4
2.2 Water Quality Parameters Subject to Regulatory Compliance at Enhanced
Anaerobic Bioremediation Sites........................................................................2-13
3.1 Literature Values for First-Order Degradation Rates in the Presence of Mulch
Substrates.............................................................................................................3-8
3.2 Components of Tree Mulch and Cotton Gin Trash used at Altus AFB,
Oklahoma...........................................................................................................3-13
4.1 Examples of Preparatory Inspection Activities for Biowall or Bioreactor
Construction.........................................................................................................4-2
4.2 Examples of Construction Inspection Activities for Biowall Construction........4-9
4.3 Follow-Up Inspection Activities for Biowall or Bioreactor Construction........4-14
5.1 Analytical Results for Trench Spoils, SS-17 Biowall System, Altus AFB,
Oklahoma.............................................................................................................5-3
6.1 Typical Stabilization Criteria for Water Quality Parameters.............................6-12
6.2 Soil and Backfill Material Analytical Protocol for Permeable Mulch Biowalls
and Bioreactors..................................................................................................6-13
6.3 Groundwater Analytical Protocol for Permeable Mulch Biowalls and
Bioreactors.........................................................................................................6-17
6.4 Analytical Methods and Requirements for Containers, Preservation, Volumes,
and Holding Times.............................................................................................6-24
6.5 Typical QA/QC Sampling Program...................................................................6-31
7.1 Summary of Chlorinated Ethenes in Groundwater and Biowall Materials.........7-4
7.2 Molecular Weights for Various Chlorinated Compounds...................................7-5
7.3 Reduction in Groundwater Toxicity, OU-1, Altus AFB, Oklahoma.................7-15
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
LIST OF TABLES (Continued)
Page
7.4 Range of Hydrogen Concentrations for a Given Terminal Electron-Accepting
Process...............................................................................................................7-18
9.1 Biowall Technology Costs, BG05, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.....................9-4
LIST OF FIGURES
No. Title Page
1.2 Schematic of a Permeable Mulch Biowall...........................................................1-4
1.3 Schematic of a Permeable Mulch Bioreactor......................................................1-5
1.4 Pathways for (1) Biotic Transformation of Chlorinated Ethenes and (2) Abiotic
Transformation by Iron Monosulfide..................................................................1-7
1.5 Location of DOD Biowall and Bioreactor Applications...................................1-11
2.1 Solar Panel to Power an Extraction Pump for the Remote Bioreactor Site at LF-
03, Altus AFB, Oklahoma...................................................................................2-6
2.2 Rock Trencher Employed at NWIRP McGregor, Texas.....................................2-8
3.1 Dual Biowall Configuration at Dover AFB, Delaware........................................3-2
3.2 Nomenclature for Biowall Dimensions...............................................................3-4
3.3 As-Built Configuration of Biowall at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.................3-5
3.4 Construction Diagram of Typical Biowall Cross Section...................................3-6
3.5 Materials Used in Construction of the OU-1 Biowall, Altus AFB, Oklahoma.3-11
3.6 Continuous Chain Trencher at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota..........................3-17
3.7 Installation of Vertical Injection Risers and Horizontal Pipe at NWIRP
McGregor, Texas...............................................................................................3-18
3.8 Cross-Section View of an Example Monitoring Well Transect for a Permeable
Mulch Biowall...................................................................................................3-20
4.1 Stockpiling of Biowall Materials Prior to Mixing at the BG-05 Site, Ellsworth
AFB, South Dakota..............................................................................................4-6
4.2 Slotted HDPE Pipe Threaded Through a Continuous One-Pass Trencher Prior to
Installation, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.........................................................4-6
5.1 Laying Excavated Trench Soil in a Windrow Along the Biowall Alignment,
Altus AFB, Oklahoma.........................................................................................5-2
5.2 Laying Excavated Trench Soil on Plastic Sheeting, Altus AFB, Oklahoma.......5-2
6.1 Nitrogen Sprayer from Copper Tubing to Inject Liquid Nitrogen.......................6-9
6.2 Frozen Sample of Biowall Material Collected Using Liquid Nitrogen Method at
Altus AFB, Oklahoma.......................................................................................6-10
7.1 Changes in Molar Concentrations of Chloroethenes Over Time With Sequential
Dechlorination at Specified Degradation Rates...................................................7-6
7.2 Changes in Molar Concentrations of Chloroethenes Over Time With
Biogeochemical Transformation at Specified Degradation Rates.......................7-7
7.3A Concentrations of Chloroethenes and Total Molar Chloroethenes Along the
Northern Flowpath at 13 Weeks..........................................................................7-8
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